Universal drain stopping device with enlarged stopper

ABSTRACT

A universal drain stopping device with enlarged stopper is installable in drains having different sized central threaded bores. A stopping assembly with a stopper and hollow shaft is removably engageable with a reversible stem. The stopping assembly and stem are axially reciprocable relative to each other when engaged. The reversible stem has opposite threaded ends having different sizes. The device is installable into a drain by threaded mating of one end of the stem with the central threaded bore of the drain. The stem can be axially reversed for installation into another drain with a different sized threaded bore. The stopper has a diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of the drain in which the device is installed.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to drain stoppers, and more particularly, to drain stopping devices that are installable in tub drains with threaded central bores, such as a bathtub or the like.

Most consumer tubs, such as bathtubs, can be ordered in a wide variety of sizes, styles, and colors. Regardless of this wide variety of available options, nearly all bathtubs can be fit with a drain having a central threaded bore that is mateable with the threaded stem of a variety of drain stopping device. Appropriate drain stopping devices generally comprise a stopper carried on a threadably mateable stem. However, drains with different sized threaded bores exist in the marketplace, requiring stopping devices with like sized thread on the appropriate stem end. For instance, drains are commonly sold with ⅜ inch and 5/16 inch diameter threaded bores.

Additionally, most drains are fit with outer radial flanges that extend beyond the diameter of an installed stopping device, requiring matching of finish between the drain and stopping device for aesthetic purposes. In order to change the aesthetics of the drain area, one must replace not only the stopping device, but the entire drain itself. The varying finishes on drains and stoppers and the sizes of threaded bores in drains create obvious challenges for repair, replacement and/or installation.

SUMMARY

There is a need for a universal drain stopping device with parts that allow installation into drains with different sized threaded bores as well as parts that conceal the drain when installed. The embodiments of the presently disclosed drain stopping device is installable into many different types of drains without requiring replacement of the drain to aesthetically match the finish of the device.

According to one disclosed embodiment, the drain closure device is for use in one of multiple tub drains, each defining a passage and having a central threaded bore and a radial flange with a diameter extending from the passage. The device has a reversible stem and a stopping assembly. The reversible stem has an axial length and opposite first and second ends. The first end has thread of a first size for engagement with a central threaded bore of one drain. The second end has thread of a second size that is different from the first size. The stopping assembly is configured to detachably engage with the reversible stem substantially coaxially. The stopping assembly has a stopper that is axially reciprocable relative to the stem when the stopping assembly and stem are engaged. The device is installable in a drain by mating of either of the first or second end of the stem with the central threaded bore of the drain. The diameter of the stopper is at least equal to than that of the outer radial edge of the drain in which the device is installed.

In another embodiment, a drain closure device is for use in first and second tub drains. The drains each define a substantially cylindrical passage, have outer radial edges with diameters, and a central threaded bore. The size of the respective threaded bores differs from each other. The drain closure device has a stopper, hollow shaft and reversible stem. The stopper has a top portion, a bottom portion and a diameter D1. The hollow shaft extends downwardly from the stopper. The hollow shaft and stopper are substantially coaxial. The reversible stem has an axial length and opposite first and second ends. The respective ends of the stem have threaded outer surfaces of different sizes. The hollow shaft is slidably engaged with and disengagable from the stem. The device is installable in a first drain by mating of the first threaded end of the stem with the threaded bore of the drain. The mating fixes the stem in the first drain such that the stem and stopper can be slidingly reciprocated from a raised opened position to a lowered closed position. The stopper seals the tub from the first drain passage in the lowered closed position. The device is installable in a second drain via disengagement of the stem from the hollow shaft, axial reversal of the stem and re-engagement to the hollow shaft, and mating of the second threaded end with the second drain threaded bore. The diameter D1 of the stopper is at least equal to the diameter of the outer radial edge of either of the first and second drains.

In yet another embodiment, a drain closure device is for use in two drains with central threaded bores of different sizes. The respective tub drains each define a substantially cylindrical passage and have an upper radial flange extending radially outward from the passage. The outer edge of the flange has a diameter. The device has a reversible stem, stopper and hollow shaft. The reversible stem has an axial length, cylindrical wall and opposite first and second ends. The first end is mateable with the central threaded bore of one drain while the second end is mateable with the central threaded bore of the other drain. An axial opening defining a track extends along the cylindrical wall. The stopper has a substantially circular cross section. A knob projects from an upper portion of the stopper. There is a threaded recess in a lower portion of the stopper. The hollow shaft has an axial length and a cylindrical wall with a lateral opening. An upper threaded end of the hollow shaft mates with the threaded recess in the stopper lower portion. The shaft is slidably and detachably engaged with the reversible stem by a removable pin extending through the lateral opening into the track. When the device is installed in a drain by threaded mating of one of the first and second stem ends with the respective drain bore, the stopper is manually reciprocable between a lowered closed position to a raised opened position. The stopper fluidly seals the tub from the respective passage in the closed position and permits fluid communication between the tub and the passage in the opened position. The stopper is maintained in the raised position by a cooperating spring-loaded ball detent mechanism operable between the stem and the shaft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Aspects of the preferred embodiment will be described in reference to the Drawing, where like numerals reflect like elements:

FIG. 1 is a partial longitudinal cross section view of a drain stopping device according to the disclosure in the opened position;

FIG. 2 is a partial longitudinal cross section view of the drain stopping device of FIG. 1 in the closed position;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross section view of a drain into which the disclosed drain stopping device is installable;

FIG. 4A is an elevation view of the reversible stem of the disclosed drain stopping device;

FIG. 4B is a partial cross section view of the reversible stem of FIG. 4B from a different angle;

FIG. 5A is a longitudinal cross section view of the hollow stem of the disclosed drain stopping device;

FIG. 5B is an elevation view of the stem of FIG. 5A from a different angle; and

FIG. 6 an example of a conventional tub within which the disclosed drain stopping device is installable from multiple views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawing wherein like numerals represent like parts throughout the Figures, a universal drain stopping device with an enlarged stopper is disclosed. Embodiments allow installers to use the same device in tub drains with central threaded bores of different sizes. Additionally, embodiments allow the aesthetics of a drain to be altered without replacing the drain itself or any other plumbing pieces.

As depicted in FIG. 1, this embodiment of the drain stopping device 10 has a stopper 12, hollow shaft 14 and reversible stem 16 engaged in a substantially coaxial arrangement. The reversible stem 16 has opposite first and second ends, 18 and 20, separated by a body 22. An opening 24 that defines a track extends axially along the body 22. As can be seen, the first and second ends, 18 and 20, have threaded outer surfaces, 48 and 50, of different sizes. In one preferred embodiment, the first end has an approximately 5/16 inch diameter and the diameter of the second end is approximately ⅜ inch.

The stopper 12 has a generally circular cross section with an outer diameter D1. An upper portion 26 of the stopper 12 has a knob 28. A lower portion 30 extends from the top portion 26 and has a threaded recess 32. Here, the bottom portion also defines a lower radial ridge 34. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a sealing member 36 is positioned around the lower portion 30 axially between the ridge 34 and the upper portion 26. The sealing member 34 is generally a wear-resistant pliable material suitable for creating a fluid tight seal with a surface, such as rubber or another polymeric material.

As depicted, the top end 38 of the hollow shaft 14 threadably mates with the threaded recess 32 in the stopper 12 with the shaft 14 extending downwardly therefrom. The threadable mating is not limiting, as the shaft 14 and stopper 12 can rigidly mate in any known way or comprise a single fused element. As shown in greater detail in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the hollow shaft has a cylindrical wall 40 that defines a cavity 42. A lateral opening 44 extends through the cylindrical wall 40. The hollow shaft 14 is configured to radially surround the reversible stem body 22 and engage slidably and detachably with the stem 16. In this embodiment, the removable slidable engagement is achieved by a removable pin 46 positioned extending through the lateral opening 44 into the axial opening 24 in the reversible stem body 22.

The disclosed drain stopping device 10 is configured for installation into a relatively standard drain 52 of the type depicted in FIG. 3. The drain 52 has a cylindrical wall 54 and a central threaded bore 56. In the depicted drain, a radial flange 58 extends outwardly from the upper edge 60 of the cylindrical wall 54 and has a diameter D2. The cylindrical wall defines a substantially cylindrical passage 62 with a diameter D3. Such drains typically include a plurality of straining members 64 and have a threaded outer surface 66, though neither is necessary. Notably, standard commercially available drains employ central threaded bores having different sizes. For example, two common sizes of central threaded bores are ⅜ inch and 5/16 inch in diameter. The particular drain depicted in FIGS. 1-3 has a ⅜ inch threaded bore. With the assistance of the outer threaded surface 66, the drain 52 is installable into the discharge hole 69 of a tub 68 (for example, the tub 68 depicted in FIG. 6).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the drain stopping device 10 is installable into a drain 52 by threaded mating of the second end 20 of the reversible stem 16 with the central threaded bore 56. The threaded mating of the second end 20 and bore 56 axially fixes the stem 16 relative to the drain 52. When the drain stopping device 10 is assembled and installed in a drain, the slidable relationship between the hollow shaft 14 and the axially fixed stem 16 allows the stopper 12 and shaft 16 to be reciprocated between an opened position (FIG. 1) and a closed position (FIG. 2).

As shown in FIG. 1, the opened position allows fluid communication between the tub and the drain passage 62, thereby allowing fluid to discharge from the tub. The upper end of the track 24 serves as an axial boundary for the pin 46, thereby preventing the stopper 12 and shaft 14 from axially disengaging from the stem 16 when shifted into the opened position. When the stopper is lowered into the closed position depicted in FIG. 2, the sealing member 36 assists in fluidly sealing the tub from the passage 62, allowing the tub to be filled and/or maintain volume. In the depicted embodiment, the outer diameter of the sealing member 36 is at least moderately greater than the passage diameter D3. In the lowered closed position, the stopper 12 presses the sealing member 36 toward the passage 62 with the outer edge 37 pressed against the upper edge 60 of the wall 54. The force acting upon the stopper 12 by the mass of the fluid in the tub assists in keeping the stopper 12 in the lowered closed position.

In the depicted embodiment, the stopper 12 is maintained in the raised opened position by a cooperating spring-loaded ball 70 detent mechanism that is operable between the reversible stem 16 and hollow shaft 14. With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the stem 16 has a generally circular opening 72 in the body 22. A spring 74 is positioned laterally within the body 22 to bias a ball 70 toward the opening 72. The opening 72 is configured to maintain the ball 70 within the body 22 at all times, while allowing part of the ball 70 to project past the outer surface 22 a of the body 22 when the stopper 12 and shaft 14 are in the opened position. In the raised opened position, the ball 70 forms a detent that holds up the hollow shaft 14 at the lower edge 15, thereby preventing the stopper 12 from closing under the force from the fluid emptying from the tub. When the stopper 12 and shaft 14 are pushed downward, the spring's bias is overcome and the ball 70 is forced within the outer surface of the stem body 22, thereby allowing the shaft 14 to descend to the closed position.

The configuration of the reversible stem 16 allows the same device 10 to be installed into a drain having a different sized central threaded bore. The pin 46 can be removed. The hollow shaft 14 can then be slid past the first end 18 of the stem 16, thereby disengaging the shaft and stem (with or without disengagement of the stopper 12 from the shaft 14 at any time). After axial reversal of the stem 16, the shaft 14 can be reengaged by sliding over the second stem end 20 and reinserting the pin 46 through the lateral opening 44 to the stem track 24, leaving the first end 18 exposed. Thus, the device 10 is also installable into a different drain having a central bore that is mateable with the first end 18 ( 5/16 inch in the depicted embodiment). Notably, the disassembly and reassembly of the individual disengagable elements—stopper 12, shaft 14, stem 16 and pin 46—can be performed in any order.

Commonly, altering the aesthetics of a tub drain requires completely removing the installed drain and replacing it with a drain having a different type of finish to match a drain stopper. Occasionally, additional plumbing must be replaced as well. The drain replacement process is often time consuming and costly. As mentioned above, embodiments of the drain closing device 10 are fit with an enlarged stopper 12. In a preferred embodiment, the stopper 12 is configured so that the outer edge 13 extends at least to and preferably beyond the outer edge of a typical drain flange, like that depicted in the Figures as Reference Numeral 58. That is, D1 is at least equal to and preferably greater than D2. The enlarged stopper 12 generally conceals the finish of any drain when the device 10 is installed. Consequently, matching the stopper and drain finish is unnecessary and the tub aesthetics can be altered effectively by simply installing the disclosed device 10 into the previously installed drain. Replacement of the drain is avoided.

While a preferred embodiment has been set forth for purposes of illustration, the foregoing description should not be deemed a limitation of the invention herein. Accordingly, various modifications, adaptations and alternatives may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the claimed coverage. 

1. A drain closure device for use in one of multiple tub drains with a central threaded bore, each respective drain defining a substantially cylindrical passage and having an upper flange that extends radially outwardly from the passage, the outer edge of the flange having a diameter, comprising: (a) a reversible stem having an axial length and opposite threaded first and second ends, the first end having thread of a first size for engagement with a central threaded bore of one drain and the second end having thread of a second size that is different from the first size; and (b) a stopping assembly configured for detachable substantially coaxial engagement with the reversible stem and having a stopper that is axially reciprocable relative to the stem when the stopping assembly and stem are engaged, wherein the drain closure device is installable in a drain by mating of either the first or second end of the stem with the central threaded bore of the drain, and the stopper has a diameter that is at least equal to the diameter of the upper flange of the respective drain.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein, when the device is installed in a drain, the stopping assembly is reciprocable between a raised opened position permitting fluid communication between the tub and the passage and a lowered closed position substantially fluidly sealing the tub from the passage.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the stopping assembly comprises a shaft extending substantially coaxially from a stopper, the shaft being detachably slidingly engagable to the reversible stem and optionally detachable from the stopper.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the stopping assembly is maintained in the raised opened by a cooperating spring-loaded ball detent mechanism operable between the stem and the shaft.
 5. The device of claim 3, wherein the shaft and stopper are optionally detachable by cooperating male and female threaded units.
 6. The device of claim 3, wherein the stopper has a bottom portion from which a central projection extends, and a sealing member is positioned around the central projection and adapted to contact the drain to assist in sealing the tub from the passage when the stopper is in the closed position.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the thread on the first end of the stem is approximately ⅜ inch size and the thread on the second end of the stem is approximately 5/16 inch size.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the first end of the stem is between approximately 78 percent and approximately 88 percent of the diameter of the second end of the stem.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the stopping assembly comprises a polymeric sealing member adapted to contact the respective drain and assist in sealing the tub from the passage when the stopping assembly is in the closed position.
 10. An interchangeable drain closure device for use in first and second tub drains that each define a substantially cylindrical passage, have outer radial edges with diameters, and a central threaded bore, the size of the respective central threaded bores differing from each other, comprising: (a) a stopper having a top portion and bottom portion and a diameter D₁; (b) a hollow shaft extending downwardly from the stopper, the shaft and stopper being substantially coaxial; (c) a reversible stem having an axial length and opposite first and second ends with respective threaded outer surfaces of different sizes, the hollow shaft being slidably engaged with and disengagable from the stem; wherein the device is installable in a first drain by mating of the first threaded end of the stem and the threaded bore of the first drain to fix the stem in the first drain such that the stem and stopper can be slidingly reciprocated from a raised opened position to a lowered closed position fluidly sealing the tub from the first drain passage, and the device is installable in a second drain by disengagement of the stem from the hollow shaft, axial reversal of the stem and re-engagement to the hollow shaft, and mating of the second threaded end of the stem with the threaded bore of the second drain, the diameter D₁ of the stopper being at least equal to the diameter of outer radial edge of each of the first and second drains.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein the stopper is optionally disengagable from the hollow shaft.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein the stopper and hollow shaft are optionally disengagable via cooperating male and female threaded units.
 13. The device of claim 10, wherein the stopper comprises a sealing member proximate the bottom portion adapted to contact the drain to assist in sealing the tub from the passage when the stopper is in the closed position.
 14. The device of claim 13, wherein the sealing member is made of a polymeric material.
 15. The device of claim 10, wherein the bottom portion of the stopper comprises a central projection around which a sealing member is positioned, the sealing member being adapted to contact the drain to assist in sealing the tub from the passage when the stopper is in the closed position.
 16. The device of claim 10, comprising a knob adapted to be grippable by an individual projecting from the top portion of the stopper.
 17. The device of claim 10, wherein the thread on the first end of the stem is approximately ⅜ inch size and the thread on the second end of the stem is approximately 5/16 inch size.
 18. The device of claim 10, wherein the stopper is maintained in the opened position with the stopper raised from the drain by a cooperating spring-loaded ball detent mechanism operable between the stem and the shaft.
 19. A drain closure device for use in one of two tub drains with central threaded bores of different sizes, the respective tub drains each defining a substantially cylindrical passage and having an upper radial flange that extends radially outwardly from the passage, the outer edge of the flange having a diameter, comprising: (a) a reversible stem with an axial length, cylindrical wall and opposite threaded first and second ends, the first end being mateable with the central threaded bore of one drain and the second end being mateable with the central threaded bore of the other drain, the cylindrical wall having an axially extending opening defining a track; (b) a stopper with a substantially circular cross section, an upper portion with a knob projecting therefrom, and a lower portion with a threaded recess; and (c) a hollow shaft with an axial length, cylindrical wall with a lateral opening, and an upper threaded end that mates with the threaded recess in the stopper lower portion, the shaft being slidably and detachably engaged with the reversible stem by a removable pin extending through the lateral opening into the track, wherein when the device is installed in a drain by threaded mating of one of the first and second ends of the stem with the respective drain bore to fix the stem in the drain, the stopper is manually reciprocable between a lowered closed position substantially fluidly sealing the tub from the respective passage and a raised opened position permitting fluid communication between the tub and the passage, the stopper being maintained in the raised opened position by a cooperating spring-loaded ball detent mechanism operable between the stem and the shaft.
 20. The device of claim 19, wherein the diameter of the first end of the stem is between approximately 78 percent and approximately 88 percent of the diameter of the second end of the stem. 